Sunshine Blouw | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (original) (raw)

Papers by Sunshine Blouw

Research paper thumbnail of Performance of four European hemp cultivars cultivated under different agronomic experimental conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Abstract No

According to the objectives of the project work plan, selected hemp straw samples from the four h... more According to the objectives of the project work plan, selected hemp straw samples from the four hemp pilot sites were investigated to determine the hemp fibre content. The experimental results gave information about the fibre content in general and in accordance to the agricultural parameters as documented in the report on "Hemp cultivar adaptation trials in the Eastern Cape" by the Agriculture Research Council -Institute for Industrial Crops, the ARC-IIC, as well as an indication of the best performing cultivars of the four piloted in the Eastern Cape Province.

Research paper thumbnail of Composites from Bast Fibres-Prospects and Potential in the Changing Market Environment

Journal of Natural Fibers, 2007

Composite materials reinforced with natural fibres, such as flax, hemp, kenaf and jute, are gaini... more Composite materials reinforced with natural fibres, such as flax, hemp, kenaf and jute, are gaining increasing importance in automotive, aerospace, packaging and other industrial applications due to their lighter weight, competitive specific strength and stiffness, improved energy recovery, carbon dioxide sequestration, ease and flexibility of manufacturing and environmental friendliness besides the benefit of the renewable resources of bast fibres. The market scenario for composite applications is changing due to the introduction of newer biodegradable polymers, such as PLA synthesized from corn, development of composite making techniques and new stringent environmental laws requiring improved recyclability or biodegradability for industrial applications where stress bearing capacities and micro-mechanical failures dictate serviceability. Bast fibre reinforced composites, made from biodegradable polymers, will have to compete with conventional composites in terms of their mechanical behaviour. Biocomposites, in which natural fibres, such as kenaf, jute, flax, hemp, sisal, corn stalk, bagasse or even grass are embedded in a biodegradable matrix, made as bioplastics from soybean, corn and sugar, have openedup new possibilities for applications in automotive and building products. Obviously, new approaches to research and development will be required to improve their mechanical properties, such as tensile, bending and impact resistance to match their performance and commercial competitiveness against petroleum based products. The research community has to look at the various possibilities of combining natural fibres, such as sisal, flax, hemp and jute with polymer matrices from non-renewable and renewable resources to develop cost effective biocomposites. This paper will review the newer products and techniques that can improve the properties of bast fibre based composites as well as potential structural and non-structural applications which can increase their market share.

Research paper thumbnail of Performance of four European hemp cultivars cultivated under different agronomic experimental conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Abstract No

According to the objectives of the project work plan, selected hemp straw samples from the four h... more According to the objectives of the project work plan, selected hemp straw samples from the four hemp pilot sites were investigated to determine the hemp fibre content. The experimental results gave information about the fibre content in general and in accordance to the agricultural parameters as documented in the report on "Hemp cultivar adaptation trials in the Eastern Cape" by the Agriculture Research Council -Institute for Industrial Crops, the ARC-IIC, as well as an indication of the best performing cultivars of the four piloted in the Eastern Cape Province.

Research paper thumbnail of Composites from Bast Fibres-Prospects and Potential in the Changing Market Environment

Journal of Natural Fibers, 2007

Composite materials reinforced with natural fibres, such as flax, hemp, kenaf and jute, are gaini... more Composite materials reinforced with natural fibres, such as flax, hemp, kenaf and jute, are gaining increasing importance in automotive, aerospace, packaging and other industrial applications due to their lighter weight, competitive specific strength and stiffness, improved energy recovery, carbon dioxide sequestration, ease and flexibility of manufacturing and environmental friendliness besides the benefit of the renewable resources of bast fibres. The market scenario for composite applications is changing due to the introduction of newer biodegradable polymers, such as PLA synthesized from corn, development of composite making techniques and new stringent environmental laws requiring improved recyclability or biodegradability for industrial applications where stress bearing capacities and micro-mechanical failures dictate serviceability. Bast fibre reinforced composites, made from biodegradable polymers, will have to compete with conventional composites in terms of their mechanical behaviour. Biocomposites, in which natural fibres, such as kenaf, jute, flax, hemp, sisal, corn stalk, bagasse or even grass are embedded in a biodegradable matrix, made as bioplastics from soybean, corn and sugar, have openedup new possibilities for applications in automotive and building products. Obviously, new approaches to research and development will be required to improve their mechanical properties, such as tensile, bending and impact resistance to match their performance and commercial competitiveness against petroleum based products. The research community has to look at the various possibilities of combining natural fibres, such as sisal, flax, hemp and jute with polymer matrices from non-renewable and renewable resources to develop cost effective biocomposites. This paper will review the newer products and techniques that can improve the properties of bast fibre based composites as well as potential structural and non-structural applications which can increase their market share.